C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon surmounted by a crown  
ACT Discharging Solicitations  
EDINBURGH, the sixth of November, 1677.  
THe Lords of Council and Session taking to their serious consideration, that by several Acts of Sederunt, the Lords have formerly prohibited all Solicitations in Causes depending before them, whereby Parties did endeavour and expect Favour by the credit and moyen of themselves or their friends interposing with the Lords, and personal respects not relating to the Cause, to the great discouragement of others who had not the like friendship or moven, and to the great trouble of all, conceiving it their interest, and that it might be looked on as a slight or neglect if they did not upon all occasions, by themselves or their friends, solicit the whole Lords at their houses, lying scattered through the several places of the City, imagining thereby to have much promoved their Interest, and payed respect to the Lords, who have no regard to, but are troubled with such Solicitations, it being their duty and design to do Justice to all impartially, without respect of Persons. Notwithstanding of which Acts and Endeavours of the Lords against Solicitations, the same have been revived, upon pretence of giving information in the Cause; But now seing written Informations are become ordinary, and that all that ought to be represented to the Lords in any case, may easily and without trouble be done by written Informations sent to the Lords by a servant, which they will hearty accept, and will not fail to peruse; and finding it infeasible to hinder Solicitations, so long as they admit of verbal Informations: Therefore, the Lords do declare, that they will admit of no Solicitation, or verbal Information in any Cause depending, or that shall depend before them, during the dependence thereof, either by the Parties themselves, or any other person: And to the end the same may be effectual against all importunity, the saids Lords do enact and declare, That it shal be a relevant reason of Declinator against any of the saids Lords ordinary or extraordinary, that they have received or heard any Solicitation or verbal Information in the Cause during the dependence thereof, but upon the first observing that the matter offered to be spoken to them did bear or import any Solicitation or verbal Information in a Cause depending, if they did not use all the means they could to stop or withdraw to hear any further thereof; or in case any Solicitation or Information in a Cause depending be offered by a missive Letter, if they do not present the same to the Lords. Like as the saids Lords do strictly prohibit all advocates, Clerks, Writers, and others depending on the college of Justice, or their servants, to offer to any of the Lords any Solicitation or Information by word or letter, by only by written Informations, Bills, or Tickets for calling, under the pain of deprivation, and being secluded from the house, excepting the Clerk of the Process, for clearing any Interloquitor or Minute in the Cause. Likeas, the saids Lords do declare, That if any Party or others of the lieges, offer any Solicitation or Information, by Word or Missive, that they will amerciat them as follows, viz. Every Nobleman, in three hundred marks scots; every Baron or Knight, in two hundred marks; every other Heretor, Gentleman, or chief Burgess, in one hundred pounds; and every other person in one hundred marks toties quoties, to be applied for the use of the poor. It is always hereby declared, That the verbal Information of any party, or other person for him when required or allowed judicially, or before Auditors, in diets appointed for both parties to be heard, or before the Ordinaties upon the Bills, in relation to the passing of Bills of Suspension or Advocation, or before any of the Lords to whom either by consent of Parties, or by appointment or Recommendation of the Lords, an Accommodation in any Process is referred, is no ways hereby prohibited: And to the effect the lieges may be secured against any prejudice which they may apprehended by debarring them from Solicitation or verbal Information, the Lords do declare, That there shall be free access for all persons to inform them by written Informations only, to be delivered by servants, and that in all cases from time to time. And for the more sure delivery of Informations, they ordain, that every one of the Lords shall have a servant attending in his house from five a clock to eight a clock at night, who shall be holden to receive any Informations, doubles of Bills, or Tickets for calling, that shall be given in, without payment of any money, under such pain or punishment as the Lords shall think fit: And which Informations, Bills, and Tickets shall be delivered by the servants of advocates, or of the Parties, or other servants, and by none others. And ordains this Act to be affixed on the wall of the utter House, and to be printed, that none pretend ignorance thereof. Extracted out of the Books of Sederunt by,  
Al Gibson. 
 GOD save the King.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrw Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty. Anno Dom. 1677.